You are serious about learning more about how to care for the Havanese puppy you wish to purchase. It may have been many years since a dog has been in your home, or perhaps this will be the first do you have ever owned, or perhaps you have never spent much time with small breeds. What questions will you want to ask your Havanese breeder before you commit to the purchase of a particular animal? What simple, regular routines will you undertake to ensure your Havense's continued good health? What are the signs of health problems in any dog? What are the signs of particular Havanese health problems?
Do you know what you would do if needed to arrange emergency care for your Havanese? What should you do if your Havanese suffers an injury such as a broken bone? Do you know how to talk to your veterinarian about the injury?
The Havanese is a longhaired breed, so you should brush and comb their fur twice a week. This will prevent matting and tangles. Most Havanese owners have their dogs professionally groomed several times a year. Be sure to keep your Havanese's eyes and ears clean. This will help prevent infections. Common Havanese health problems include cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), dislocated kneecaps (luxating patellas), ear infections, poodle-eye, and dry skin. None of these problems is life threatening. Knee problems in the Havanese lead to bow-leggedness. Cataracts and retinal atrophy can lead to early blindness. Poodle-eye is a harmless brown staining in the corners of the eyes. Havanese breeders are making the effort to maintain databases on the health defects of their dogs and to remove dogs with eye and knee problems from their breeding lines.
Be sure that you have a regular veterinarian for your Havanese's health care. As part of regular veterinary care, your Havanese puppy should receive vaccinations against common animal diseases and examinations for parasites such as worms and ear mites.
Prevention is worth many ounces of cure when it comes to
Havanese health problems. You can prevent ear parasites by cleaning your Havanese's ears once a week. (Ear mites are a particular problem for all floppy eared dog breeds—the Havanese included). You can prevent eye infections by cleaning your Havanese's eyes once a week. Be sure that your Havanese does not ingest common foods that you enjoy but that are poisonous to all dogs. These foods include chocolate, caffeine, grapes and raisins, tomatoes, onions, garlic, chives, nutmeg, and walnuts.
Some pet owners forget to take their pet for regular veterinary checkups. Don't do this to your new Havanese. Additionally, be sure to keep your veterinarians contact information handy in case you need emergency care for your Havanese. You can also take your Havanese to the nearest emergency pet clinic. Additionally, many pet supply super stores have an on site veterinarian
Fiona Kelly is a lifelong animal lover with a special interest in rare breeds. Health care is a vital component of
Havanese care. The health problems that might trouble a Havanese are discussed in this article. Obtaining
emergency care for your Havanese is also covered.
After living with Havanese for many years, Fiona Kelly is considered one of the country’s leading authorities on this rare breed. The National Dog of Cuba, the Havanese, which took centuries to develop, was nearly wiped out in the Cuban Revolution. Today, the story behind the Havanese has changed in that they no longer need to wander, having found a place to settle down in America.
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